System for controlling the use of a software application on a plurality of computers
First Claim
1. A system for controlling the use of a software application on a plurality of computers, the system comprising:
- a plurality of computers, each capable of running a given software application, a server having a server store, communication means respectively permitting communication between each said computer and said server, and a transaction arrangement operable respectively between each said computer and said server by way of said communication means for enabling a predetermined use of said given software application by respective ones of said computers, in which said server controls said predetermined use by means of said transaction arrangement and according to conditions stored in said server store.
18 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a computer system comprising a plurality of computers, each capable of running a given software application, and a server. A transaction arrangement is operable between each computer and the server for activating and deactivating a license for the given software application selectively at each computer. In the preferred embodiment, each computer comprises an application store for storing a copy of the given software application, and a license store for storing details of the license including license rights. The server comprises a data store for storing a serial code for the given software application, a data store for storing an identification code for any computer where the license is activated, and data store containing details of the license rights allocated to each computer. The transaction arrangement involves transmitting a request from a respective computer to the server to activate a license at that computer, a check by the server as to whether a license is available, and the transmission of a response by the server indicating the availability of the license and, if so, the license rights awarded.
65 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the use of a software application on a plurality of computers, the system comprising:
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a plurality of computers, each capable of running a given software application, a server having a server store, communication means respectively permitting communication between each said computer and said server, and a transaction arrangement operable respectively between each said computer and said server by way of said communication means for enabling a predetermined use of said given software application by respective ones of said computers, in which said server controls said predetermined use by means of said transaction arrangement and according to conditions stored in said server store. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A license management system for controlling the use of at least one given software application respectively on a plurality of computers, said system comprising:
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an application store associated with each said computer for storing a copy of said given software application;
a remote data store for storing information concerning a license to operate said at least one given software application;
a remote data store for storing identification information relating to said at least one given software application;
a remote data store for storing identification information relating to each said computer; and
a transaction arrangement operatively linking said application store, said license store, said software identification store and said computer identification store, said transaction arrangement being responsive to a request from a respective said computer for use of said at least one given software application to verify whether said at least one given software application is available for use by said respective computer and to transmit to said respective computer a said license to use said at least one given software application in the event that said at least one given software application is so available. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer programmed to perform a transaction for enabling the operation of a given software application, the transaction arrangement comprising:
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creating a license file for a license to operate said given software application;
assigning to said license file a serial number representing said given software application;
assigning to said license file an identification code representing said computer;
transmitting to a server a request to execute said given software application;
transmitting with said request said serial number and said identification code;
in response to a server reply updating the license file with information concerning the availability of said license; and
reading said license file for establishing whether said given software application can be executed. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method for controlling the execution of a given software application on a plurality of computers in a computer system including a server, said method comprising the steps of:
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creating a license file on a respective said computer for a license to operate said given software application;
license assigning to the license file an identification code representing said respective computer;
formulating a request to execute said given software application at said respective computer, said request including a serial number associated with said given software application and said identification number;
transmitting said request with said serial number and said identification code to a server;
in response to a reply from said server updating the license file with information concerning the availability of said license; and
reading said license file for establishing the status of said license at said respective computer. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification